Legal Tender

Legal Tender Author Responds to Reid

staceyfott — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:40:50 +0000

POLITICIAN PONDERS PROSTITUTION

Does anyone besides me think that Sen. Harry Reid’s sudden dislike of legal prostitution is unsettling? This guy has been a senator for the State of Nevada for a hundred years and TODAY he has a problem with legal prostitution? TODAY he has spoken to businessmen who don’t want to conduct business in Nevada because of legal prostitution? TODAY he’s come to the revelation that Nevada should be thought of as the State with the world’s newest ideas and newest careers, not about its oldest profession? Come on Senator; who are you trying to kid?

I’ve been the Madam of a legal brothel for a number of years and I can tell you that the communities in which legal brothels reside, benefit greatly from their unique neighbors. It’s true that brothels pay very elevated licensing fees and such, but let’s not forget the commodity that makes the brothels what they are…….the Ladies. These Ladies make a lot of money and they SPEND a lot of money in the community in which they work. They shop, they buy food, they buy gas, they shop, they get their hair done, they get their nails done; and did I mention that they shop?

I must say I find it ironic that Senator Reid would take such a cheap shot at legal prostitution. What he did amounts to nothing more than smoke and mirrors; two common components found in the world of prostitution……smoke and mirrors.

What Happens in Rural Nevada…

staceyfott — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 22:43:56 +0000

Lawmakers lukewarm, brothel owners seethe over Reid’s call to outlaw prostitution

By Benjamin Spillman
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY — U.S. Sen. Harry Reid wanted his call to outlaw legal brothels from Nevada’s rural landscape to prompt an “adult conversation” among lawmakers about the state’s notorious sex trade.

Read Entire Article

A Brothel Madam at Bradley Beach

krissyhawkins — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:41:27 +0000

The Beach Times
In “Legal Tender”, former Bradley Beach resident Laraine Russo Harper recounts the six years she spent running an unnamed Pahrump brothel. It’s an often-amusing collection of anecdotes about her time in the sex business.
Just last month Laraine was home in Bradley Beach for the reunion of the grammer school and she was selling this book like hot cakes. I have to say I can not put it down, to think someone I know was a Madame running a business like this was amazing . . .

You must buy this book and read it cover to cover. She is not only a great writer but can tell a great story about how she went from a young Girl in Bradley Beach to the top of her field in Sin City. A four star read for you.

Read the full article at The Beach Times.

Visiting with the Church Ladies!

staceyfott — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:22:22 +0000

A lady by the name of Jean called and asked if I would speak about Legal Tender; True Tales of a Brothel Madam to her group. I told her I would be more than happy to. The date was set, January 17th, 9:00 a.m. “I’ll be there.” I asked her what group she belonged to and she replied; “St. Andrews Lutheran Church Women’s Club.”

I was so intrigued that a church group would be interested in this subect matter. My past experiences with religious organizations had been when they were on a mission to close the brothel down. I couldn’t help but wonder why me when there are so many other speakers out there.

I walked in to the church hall and was pleasantly surprised to see about 100 women. They seemed like a nice bunch, surely they had good intentions after all, we were in a church!

“Good morning. I am so happy to see all of you. You know, when Jean called me and told me she would like me to speak to the Lutheran Church Women’s Club; I have to be honest with you, I was a little apprehensive. I thought it was a set up . . I thought you were trying to reform me.” They all laughed. That was a good sign.

I typically speak for about 20 – 30 minutes and then open it up to questions and answers. That’s my style. I want to be sure that people leave with the information they came after. And how else can you determine if you’ve given t hem that information unless you let them ask questions?

I have to tell you that they had such great questions and equally as great was their sense of humor. I like to have fun with people and believe me, they were a fun bunch. It was so much fun that I even forgot we were in a church!

It just goes to show . . . EVERYONE is curious about brothels.

Admit it . . . you’re curious, too!

– Laraine

Reuter’s Recognition

staceyfott — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:36:57 +0000

How cool! Legal Tender made Reuters — one of the top international news services — and the 44th most recognized global brand. The book review appears in the Business & Finance section. Fitting, as Laraine Russo Harper’s memoir shares plenty of business sense, applicable to any business, but specific to the brothel she “madamed” for six years.

Book of the Month

staceyfott — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:36:41 +0000

During October Legal Tender has been featured as Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf’s ‘Book of the Month’. With Laraine appearing at several Las Vegas store locations to sign books and speak with readers. The book is also available for purchase in Coffee Bean stores throughout the city. Now’s your chance to grab a cup of coffee and pick up a unique read all in one go!

Lunching at the Stirling Club

staceyfott — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:36:40 +0000

Laraine was recently interviewed by Ira Sternberg, a popular TV/Radio host, in Las Vegas at the exclusive Stirling Club. Ira talked with Laraine about the book, her experiences as a Madam, the Working Girls, and the legal side of the business. You can listen to the audio of the interview here – look for the September 22, 2008 show and click to download or listen.

Autograph Party

staceyfott — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:06:19 +0000

The Aqua Lounge at the Plaza Hotel in downtown Las Vegas served as the venue for an celebratory crowd of friends and family for the launch of Legal Tender by Laraine Russo Harper. Well-known and respected in both the gaming/casino industry as well as the brothel business, Laraine’s colleagues and friends were eager to get their copies of her much anticipated memoir. Many were seen sneaking peeks during the festivities (one party-goer in the corner was devouring the pages, despite the party going on around her) so perhaps a few were checking t o see if they’d “made it” into her book. All names in the book were changed before publication, however — even the pseudonyms used by the Working Ladies.

It’s a . . . Book!

staceyfott — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 21:48:56 +0000

By Carolyn Hayes Uber, Publisher, Stephens Press

I got to do one of my very favorite things recently — present an author with the very first copy of her very first book. There is nothing quite like holding the “real thing” in your hands, the heft and weight of it, turning the pages, the smell of fresh ink — and thinking about the hundreds, if not thousands, of hours that went into the project. From research and fact-finding, to interviews and phone calls, long nights on the computer, writing and rewriting, tweaking and massaging until you have something you can call a manuscript. Then comes the quest for a publisher (which could be the subject of a whole book in itself) and then the editing, production and manufacturing process. Once the book is in hand, “the real work commences”. The marketing, interviews, signings, presentations — there’s a lot to this book biz! The one comment that authors frequently make to me is that it feels a lot like having a baby — all of the work and effort and the lengthy process — and the reward of finally seeing one’s words in print. Of course, I point out, in most cases, one can usually produce a human child on a much faster schedule than publishing a book!